GMO foods and pharmaceuticals share regulatory similarities

The GMO labeling debate, which has been sweeping across the country in recent years, has led to a widely unfavorable public perception of agricultural biotechnology. The controversy continues to exist, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that proves GMO foods pose no health risks not also found in their traditional counterparts.

According to a new article, there are many regulatory similarities between GMO foods and pharmaceutical compounds, which tend to generate much less of an uproar before getting tossed into our bodies.

“In the United States, each pharmaceutical compound is tested for effectiveness and safety in clinical trials conducted under the watchful eye of the Food and Drug Administration. Similarly, each GMO food must undergo a range of tests mandated by specific regulatory agencies,” writes The Motley Fool‘s Maxx Chatsko. “The United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency oversee livestock and environmental safety, while the FDA is tasked with ensuring substantial equivalence for new food products for human and animal consumption. Foods and pharmaceuticals go through different regulatory channels before gaining marketing approval, but each progresses through a robust, multi-year process.”